Veerle Declerck becomes the new artistic coordinator early music at Concertgebouw Brugge. Declerck is a musicologist and has years of experience in the cultural sector. She currently works at BOZAR as Deputy Director Music. From 1 April 2023 onwards, she will take over the tasks from Albert Edelman, who is leaving Concertgebouw after 11 years to take up a position as artistic director at B'Rock Orchestra. Albert has put the early music programme of Concertgebouw prominently on the map in Flanders and abroad with renowned festivals such as Bach Academie Brugge and GOLD. The coming years will see further development of this successful momentum together with Veerle. With a mix of established values and new ideas, centuries-old music remains vibrant and alive.
'I am delighted with the arrival of Veerle Declerck as the new early music programmer. With her extensive experience and network, she will put her shoulders to the future plans of Concertgebouw, whereby classical music from past and present creates important added value in our society. We share common values, with Concertgebouw being a hospitable, stimulating, creative and generously open house for a diversity of artists, audiences and partners. At the same time, I want to thank Albert Edelman wholeheartedly for years of intense collaboration, successful festivals and further development as a leading venue for early music. We will miss him and wish Albert every success at B'Rock Orchestra!'
— Jeroen Vanacker, artistic director Concertgebouw Brugge
'Concertgebouw Brugge is the ideal place to demonstrate the contemporary relevance of early music. I very much look forward to being part of a wonderful team and a fantastic open house.'
— Veerle Declerck
Biography Veerle Declerck
Veerle Declerck (1970, musicologist (KU Leuven)) began her career in 1994 as cultural officer at the City of Kortrijk. Her love for music also found a professional place when she joined Festival van Vlaanderen in 1997, first as a communications officer and from 2002 as director of Festival van Vlaanderen-Mechelen where she shaped two new festivals: Musica Divina and Mechelen hoort Stemmen. After 15 years as director there, she passed on the torch and saw a wonderful opportunity at BOZAR as coordinator of early music. Five years later, she grew into the role of Deputy Director Music. In April 2022, she was elected chair of the Réseau Europeen de Musique Ancienne. From the very beginning of her professional career, she has been committed to shaping Flemish music policy by serving on commissions (music theatre, classical music, landscape commission) and boards of cultural institutions and organisations (including deSINGEL).